Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 02:35:34 -0500
From: Darrell Todd Maurina
Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service
Subject: NR 99012: CRC Classis Kalamazoo Allows Women's Ordination, but Still
Loses South Bend CRC to Classis Holland
NR #1999-012: Christian Reformed Classis Kalamazoo Allows Women's
Ordination, but Still Loses South Bend CRC to Classis Holland
At its January 26 meeting, Classis Kalamazoo became the
eighteenth Christian Reformed classis to allow the ordination of women
ministers, elders, and evangelists, but did so by a compromise proposal
that bars churches from sending women as delegates to classis meetings.
However, that wasn't enough for South Bend CRC, which received
permission from Classis Kalamazoo to transfer to Classis Holland, a
classis which not only allows women to be ordained but also to be
delegated to classis meetings. The 26 to 19 vote follows over three
years of arguments on the matter. By narrow margins, Classis Kalamazoo
had repeatedly voted against allowing women's ordination due to protests
from conservative churches which objected to attending classical
meetings with women present.
NR #1999-012: For Immediate Release:
Christian Reformed Classis Kalamazoo Allows Women's Ordination, but
Still Loses South Bend CRC to Classis Holland
by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service
KALAMAZOO, MICH. (January 26, 1999) URNS - At its January 26 meeting,
Classis Kalamazoo became the eighteenth Christian Reformed classis to
allow the ordination of women ministers, elders, and evangelists, but
did so by a compromise proposal that bars churches from sending women as
delegates to classis meetings.
However, that wasn't enough for South Bend CRC, which received
permission from Classis Kalamazoo to transfer to Classis Holland, a
classis which not only allows women to be ordained but also to be
delegated to classis meetings.
The 26 to 19 vote follows over three years of arguments on the
matter. By narrow margins, Classis Kalamazoo had repeatedly voted
against allowing women's ordination due to protests from conservative
churches which objected to attending classical meetings with women
present.
"When we came to this point before, we always came up against
the issue of conscience of the brothers who feel they would have to
leave and not participate if women elders are present," said Rev. Steve
Van Heest of Westwood CRC. "Some of us who are in favor of opening the
offices to women have voted out of respect for the conscience of those
who feel otherwise. This is something new, it breaks the logjam we've
been up against."
Van Heest's reasoning echoed that of the pastor of the
sponsoring church, Third CRC of Kalamazoo, which submitted the overture
to classis.
"I want to underscore what we consider to be a compromise
approach to what has been a troublesome issue within our classis," said
Rev. Ken Baker of Third CRC. "In the same way that some churches of our
classis, Third Church included, have benefited from the ministries of
women elders within the confines of our churches, we want to see if
there is some way our classis would be able to allow churches to benefit
from the ministries of ordained women within the confines of the local
church."
That rationale didn't persuade Dr. Warren Lammers of Second CRC
of Kalamazoo. "I don't see this as a compromise," said Lammers. "If we
can think of this in terms of left and right, the right keeps backing up
step by step, the left keeps advancing step by step. I see all the steps
moving in one direction, so although I don't like swimming against the
tide, I feel obligated to vote against this."
Rev. Kevin Dwyer of Three Rivers CRC warned that the alternative
to passing Third CRC's overture could be more trouble. "South Bend CRC
is probably going to leave our classis; that is a grievous thing," said
Dwyer. "Third CRC is trying to do what they can do to avoid having to
leave the classis. I think we should think about that."
Despite Classis Kalamazoo's vote to allow women's ordination,
part of Dwyer's prediction proved true. Rev. Leonard Vander Zee of South
Bend CRC told classis that the church still wanted to leave for Classis
Holland. "The most important thing I want to say is this is not a
decision that was taken lightly at South Bend CRC," said Vander Zee.
"Our problem is we see delegation of women to classis as an
essential part of their role as elders," said Vander Zee. "When we look
around at our women elders and say we cannot delegate them to classis,
this is a wound in some of their hearts. There are also some highly
qualified women who do not feel they can serve as elders unless they can
be regarded as fully entitled to be delegated to classis."
Vander Zee noted that nothing in his church's overture was
ecclesiastical disobedience. "This is an option that is given to us by
synod," said Vander Zee. "We do not want to break fellowship with you,
it will just be fellowship in a different classis."
Only one delegate spoke against the South Bend overture. "What
we are doing here is ripping the cloth," said the delegate. "We are not
moving from classis to classis, we are dividing the church, and we are
making wounds that will not heal."
Both Vander Zee and Baker said they were pleased by the
classical decision - but Vander Zee noted that it wasn't without mixed
emotions.
"We wanted to find a way to remain in the fellowship of the
classis and challenge classis to stretch by saying that it is possible
to remain in the classical covenant and the denominational covenant,"
said Vander Zee. "We did not want to and never even considered leaving
this classis; we're pleased that classis made this decision."
"The pain of it is more intense, meeting personally with the
ministers of classis and hearing the expressions of regret at our
leaving," said Vander Zee.
Located near the Indiana campus of Notre Dame University, the
South Bend CRC includes a number of the denomination's more prominent
professors teaching at Notre Dame, some of whom previously taught at
Calvin College. Among them are nationally recognized historians,
theologians, and Bible scholars such as Dr. George Marsden, Dr. Alvin
Plantinga, and Dr. Jim Vander Kam.
If the June meeting of the Christian Reformed synod approves the
decision by Classis Kalamazoo and Classis Holland, South Bend CRC would
be the third church transferred due to disagreement with its classis on
the ordination of women. Synod 1997 transferred Trinity CRC of Mt.
Pleasant to Classis Muskegon because Classis Northern Michigan wasn't
willing to allow the ordination of Trinity CRC's female pastor, and
transferred Pine Creek CRC of Holland from Classis Holland to Classis
Zeeland because the conservative church didn't want to remain in a
classis with women elders. Classical transfers are ordinarily routinely
approved if both classes desire the transfer.
Cross-References to Related Articles:
#1994-043: Second Woman Pastor to Serve Christian Reformed Church;
Mary-Lee Bouma to "teach, expound the Word of God, and provide pastoral
care" as an unordained solo pastor of Trinity CRC, Mt. Pleasant,
Michigan
#1995-070: Christian Reformed Classes Permitted to Declare Church
Order Ban on Women's Ordination "Inoperative"; Synod Decision Given
Immediate Effect without Two-Year Ratification Process
#1996-024: CRC's Classis Muskegon Approves Women's Ordination
#1996-051: Classis Holland Rejects Effort to Ban Women Delegates
#1996-123: Pine Creek CRC Petitions to Leave Classis Holland for
Zeeland
#1997-008: Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine
Creek Christian Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval
#1997-010: Classis Holland Acquiesces in Pine Creek Request to
Transfer to Classis Zeeland Due to Opposition to Women in Office
#1997-029: Classis Muskegon Admits Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant;
Vote Allows Ordination of Mary-Lee Bouma as Third Christian Reformed
Woman Pastor
#1999-009: CRC's Classis Holland Votes to Accept Indiana Church
with Women Elders Pending Votes by Classis Kalamazoo and Synod
#1999-011: Christian Reformed Church's Classis Kalamazoo to Debate
Ordaining Women; May Lose Congregation with Women Elders to Classis
Holland
Contact List:
Rev. Ken Baker, Pastor, Third Christian Reformed Church
2400 Winchell Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
O: (616) 343-2400 * H: (616) 375-3871 * FAX: (616) 342-2505 *
E-Mail: revbaker@juno.com
Rev. Mary-Lee Bouma, Pastor, Trinity Christian Reformed Church
211 W. Broomfield, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858-3805
O: (517) 772-0664 * H: (517) 772-1029
Dr. Ronald De Young, Stated Clerk, Classis Holland
3596 - 47th St., Hamilton, MI 49419
O: (616) 751-8487 * H: (616) 751-6901 * FAX: (616) 751-7389 *
E-Mail: hcrc@accn.org
Rev. Kevin Dwyer, Pastor, Three Rivers Christian Reformed Church
58445 Kerr Creek Rd., Three Rivers, MI 49093
O: (616) 273-8406 * H: (616) 273-8406 * E-Mail:
shwarzma@net-link.net
Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in
North America
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560
O: (616) 224-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 224-5895 *
E-Mail: engelhad@crcna.org
Dr. Warren Lammers, Pastor, Second Christian Reformed Church
3015 Nichols Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49004
O: (616) 342-0120 * FAX: (616) 344-0029 * E-Mail:
drlammers@aol.com
Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church
635 Riley St., Holland, MI 49424
O: (616) 399-1413 * E-Mail: pinecreek@i2k.com
Rev. Neal Rylaarsdam, Stated Clerk, Classis Kalamazoo
5828 Cheshire St., Portage, MI, 49002-2220
O: (616) 327-4206 * H: (616) 669-9876 * FAX: (616) 327-0128 *
E-Mail: REV123@aol.com
Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland
4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419
O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603
Rev. Leonard Vander Zee, Pastor, South Bend Christian Reformed Church
1855 North Hickory Rd., South Bend, IN 46635
O/FAX: (219) 272-8424 * H: (219) 233-2044 * E-Mail:
lenvz@michiana.org
Rev. Steve Van Heest, Pastor, Westwood Christian Reformed Church
620 Northampton, Kalamazoo, MI 49006-2716
O: (616) 381-8691 * H: (616) 329-1434 * FAX: (616) 381-8699 *
E-Mail: westwoodcrc@juno.com
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